Railroad Training Program

Railroad Training Program

“Advanced Railroad Track Geometry,” a new three-day seminar, focuses on the most difficult part of track inspection and maintenance, that of the track's geometry. This workshop provides information on finding and identifying track geometry problems such as track gage, curve alinement, track warp, and spiral design. This workshop provides 22 professional development hours and is scheduled to be held two times a year.

“Railroad Freight Car Inspection for Interchange and Safety” is a 4-1/2 day workshop aimed at railroad train crews and mechanical forces who inspect freight cars as a part of the interchange process. This hands-on workshop focuses on the FRA and AAR regulations and provides the participant with a wide range of materials on the subject. Scheduled to be offered yearly, this workshop provides 34 professional development hours of training.

“Railroad Track Inspection and Safety Standard” is our most popular railroad workshop, averaging 6 offerings per year at locations around the country. This workshop focuses on the FRA Track Safety Standards, 49 CFR, Part 213, which are the requirements related to track inspection and maintenance. More than 400 railroads and contractors have sent employees to this five-day program, including Class 1s, shortlines, commuter agencies, private industries, contractors, consulting engineers and attorneys to learn just what the federal railroad track requirements are. In fact, many railroads use this program to meet the training and demonstration of knowledge requirements found in Part 213.7, Designation of qualified persons. This workshop provides 34 professional development hours.

“Railroad Track Inspection and Safety Standards for Transit,” another of our modified workshops based upon our regularly held track workshop. This program has been used by Bay Area Rapid Transit to train their inspectors and track supervisors in how to prevent track problems, a challenge when trains operate as frequently as they do in a transit system.

“Timber Bridge Inspection and Safety Regulations for Railroads” is a 2-1/2 day workshop designed to assist a person to inspect and maintain timber railroad bridges. This workshop explains the basic engineering of timber bridges, explains the functions of each component, shows how and why each component fails, and provides a recommended inspection procedure. We include a field bridge inspection using our University's own bridges. 20 professional development hours.

“Working with Highway-Railroad Grade Crossing Safety,”a one-day seminar aimed at highway and government officials who need to know about highway-railroad grade crossings. This program goes through the basics of highway and railroad engineering requirements, where standards are found, who the railroads are and how to contact them, etc.

Center for Transportation Research (CTR)				*Railroad Training Program*


“Advanced Railroad Track Geometry,” a new three-day seminar, focuses on the most difficult part of track inspection and maintenance, that of the track's geometry. This workshop provides information on finding and identifying track geometry problems such as track gage, curve alinement, track warp, and spiral design. This workshop provides 22 professional development hours and is scheduled to be held two times a year.

“Bridge Worker Protection Program” is a half-day program, generally held as part of our bridge training, that covers the basic federal requirements on worker safety when bridges are involved. Covers Part 214 requirements.

	“Railroad Freight Car Inspection for Interchange and Safety” is a 4-1/2 day workshop aimed at railroad train crews and mechanical forces who inspect freight cars as a part of the interchange process. This hands-on workshop focuses on the FRA and AAR regulations and provides the participant with a wide range of materials on the subject. Scheduled to be offered yearly, this workshop provides 34 professional development hours of training.

“Railroad Track Inspection and Safety Standard” is our most popular railroad workshop, averaging 6 offerings per year at locations around the country. This workshop focuses on the FRA Track Safety Standards, 49 CFR, Part 213, which are the requirements related to track inspection and maintenance. More than 400 railroads and contractors have sent employees to this five-day program, including Class 1s, shortlines, commuter agencies, private industries, contractors, consulting engineers and attorneys to learn just what the federal railroad track requirements are. In fact, many railroads use this program to meet the training and demonstration of knowledge requirements found in Part 213.7, Designation of qualified persons. This workshop provides 34 professional development hours.

	“Railroad Track Inspection and Safety Standards for High Speed Rail” was developed and taught at the request of Amtrak and other agencies who are dealing with Track Classes 6 through 9. This program follows the same basic outline as our regular track inspection workshop but focuses on the requirements for speeds above 90mph for passenger trains.

“Railroad Track Inspection and Safety Standards for Transit,” another of our modified workshops based upon our regularly held track workshop. This program has been used by Bay Area Rapid Transit to train their inspectors and track supervisors in how to prevent track problems, a challenge when trains operate as frequently as they do in a transit system.

	“Roadway Worker Protection - An Overview” is a one-day workshop aimed at covering the basics of 49 CFR, Part 214 Subpart C. This series of rules established all of the safety requirements for track workers and inspectors and the workshop is presented as needed. “Steel Bridge Inspection and Safety Regulations for Railroads” is a 1-1/2 day workshop designed to assist a person to inspect and maintain steel railroad bridges. This workshop explains the basic engineering of steel bridges, explains the functions of each component, shows how and why each component fails, and provides a recommended inspection procedure. 12 professional development hours.

“Timber Bridge Inspection and Safety Regulations for Railroads” is a 2-1/2 day workshop designed to assist a person to inspect and maintain timber railroad bridges. This workshop explains the basic engineering of timber bridges, explains the functions of each component, shows how and why each component fails, and provides a recommended inspection procedure. We include a field bridge inspection using our University's own bridges. 20 professional development hours.

	“Working with Highway-Railroad Grade Crossing Safety,”a one-day seminar aimed at highway and government officials who need to know about highway-railroad grade crossings. This program goes through the basics of highway and railroad engineering requirements, where standards are found, who the railroads are and how to contact them, etc.

For more information concerning Railroad Training please contact Dr. David B. Clarke at (865) 974-5255.

Civil & Environmental Engineering / Southeastern Transportation Center (STC)/ Tennessee Transportation Assistance Program (TTAP) /Tennessee Traffic Safety Resource Service